'Not time for beginners to get on water'

When the heavy rains come to Western North Carolina - and, boy, have they done so in recent weeks - in a flash our mountain rivers can be transformed into torrents of whitewater fed by gushing streams, creeks and other tributaries. Although most folks would dare not risk rafting or kayaking on such dangerous high waters, a few thrill-seekers will inevitably attempt to navigate the raging rapids, only to find themselves in over their heads ? sometimes quite literally.

That certainly has been the case this month, as local emergency officials have assisted with at least six swift-water rescues since the beginning of July. Sadly, one of those became a recovery operation as the body of a 36-year-old Kentucky kayaker was found in the Shining Rock area of Haywood County last week after he went missing on a section of the Pigeon River in the Pisgah National Forest a few days earlier.

After receiving nearly 5 inches of rain in a four-day period, the river was tricky to handle even for an experienced paddler, says Jeff Haynes, chief deputy with the Haywood County Sheriff's Department. "Due to the rainfall we've had over the last several days, the rapids were treacherous," Haynes told the Citizen-Times.

In addition, the Asheville Fire Department was involved in four rescue efforts last week on the French Broad River, and assisted on another last Sunday when two teenage boys from Greenville, S.C., fell out of their inflatable rafts and plunged over a small dam on the Pigeon River near Canton.

The teens were lucky to have avoided the same fate as the drowned kayaker, says Johnny Pless, Center Pigeon Fire Department chief, who responded to the emergency call. "Fortunately, they were able to maintain their grip on their inflatable raft, so they were able to keep their heads above water."

Emergency personnel are worried they will be dealing with more swift-water rescues in the days ahead. Many mountain areas have received some 10 inches of rain since July 1 and the rivers continue to rage. Frequent afternoon thunderstorms are producing deluges, adding to the level of water rolling through the riverbanks. And hurricane season hasn't even hit its stride.

With our waterways unlikely to recede to normal levels anytime soon, emergency officials and experienced whitewater enthusiasts alike are encouraging novice paddlers against succumbing to the temptation to seek big thrills by taking on the big rapids.

Maurice Phipps, professor of parks and recreation management at Western Carolina University who researches and writes extensively about outdoor topics, warns that the increased amounts of water in our swollen rivers not only change features such as waves and rapids, but also create additional dangers. "During flood conditions, a lot of debris, trees, branches and whatever that once was on the bank gets pushed into the river; a conveyor belt caused a drowning on the Tuckaseigee River some years ago," Phipps says. "In flood conditions the river will not be clear, so any of this garbage may be just below the surface. You could actually be hit by logs coming downstream."

WNC river outfitters also are being hit financially, losing a significant amount of revenue during the height of last week's flooding conditions, especially over the typically busy Independence Day weekend. French Broad Rafting and Ziplines in Marshall was closed for four days, canceling trips for about 1,000 people and costing the company about $30,000, says co-owner Korey Hampton.

But there's a reason the companies won't run trips during such times. It's simply too dangerous. "It's world-class whitewater, and it's a lot of fun," Hampton says. "But leave it to the professionals at this point. This is not the time for beginners to get on the water."

For the river outfitters the rain-swollen rivers of recent days is a matter of loss of revenue, but for amateur paddlers foolish enough to venture into the river wild, it's an even more serious matter - the potential loss of life. As WCU's Phipps says, the bottom line for paddlers, regardless of skill level, is to use good judgment "?.so you can live to be old boaters."

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'Not time for beginners to get on water'

When the heavy rains come to Western North Carolina ? and, boy, have they done so in recent weeks ? in a flash our mountain rivers can be transformed into torrents of whitewater fed by gushing